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At the same conference the object of the recent increase in school-fees was also discussed. The gradual increase in the fees charged in Government Schools has been accepted always with reluctance by the Chinese and the latest increase resulted in the presentation of a widely-signed petition on behalf of the poorer classes who endeavour to give their children a few years' instruction in English. The question is now under the consideration of an Education Committee.
A petition was received in November from owners of house-property in the district in which it is proposed to remove ceilings. A final decision has not yet been arrived at by the Sanitary Board.
A draft Limited Partnership Bill is now being considered by the Chinese and has received their support.
Kidnapping of children—mostly boys—both in Hongkong and in the adjacent districts of China has been very prevalent. This department has had the fortune occasionally to discover kidnapped children who had been brought to Hongkong and to obtain, through the Po Leung Kuk, the restoration of children who had been taken away from the Colony. The traffic in children from Shanghai, referred to in last year's report, appears to have ceased. There were only three cases discovered, all in the early part of the year.
Alongside the harmless fortune-tellers, selectors of lucky dates, palmists and phrenologists who charge a fee for telling a fortune, there exists a class of men who deal in black magic or make use of their supposed powers to extract large sums from women. The Government receives the hearty support of the Chinese in ridding the Colony of these pests.
Two appeals for the cancellation of banishment orders have been granted through this office and one refused.
At the request of the District Watchmen Committee children who are hawking without a licence are on their first offence sent to the Registrar General who cautions their guardians. This procedure seems to have proved effective in each case.
There have been numerous labour disputes but none which has caused much inconvenience. In June the jinricksha coolies succeeded in getting from the owners of the vehicles a reduction in the hire of jinrickshas from 55 cents a day for first class and 40 for second, to 47 and 35 cents respectively. The coolies presumed somewhat on their success and numerous disputes arose between individual owners and pullers but relations between them are now normal.
In July the head coal-coolies succeeded in obtaining an increase in the customary allowance for baskets and shovels which amounted to twelve or thirteen dollars on an average cargo of coal. The amount in dispute was trifling and I think the head-coolies who had recently formed a guild wished to test their strength and obtain recognition.
Similarly the Hakka quarry-masters have been organizing themselves, and much time has been occupied in settling a dispute to which the Stone-masons Guild, the Quarry Farmer and the quarry-masters were all parties.